Ridgewood Students Move 'One Step Closer' To $2,500 Merit Scholarships

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Four academically talented Ridgewood students have moved one step closer to getting a $2,500 scholarship, school district officials said.

High school students Kate Minn, Chloe Cho, Lucas Wang and Ethan Holden advanced to finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, putting them closer to consideration for one of 7,250 scholarships worth nearly $28 million, officials said Thursday.

To become finalists, the students each submitted an application that provided information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

Each of the now-finalists were selected last year among 16,000 semifinalists whom represent less than one percent of all high school seniors who took the PSAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists had an opportunity to continue in the competition to qualify as finalists for merit scholarships this spring.

Every finalist will compete for $2,500 scholarships awarded on a state-representational basis. Other types of scholarships offered are corporate-sponsored awards and college-sponsored awards, specifically for those who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners, selected from the group of finalists, will be announced this spring, and join more than 300,000 other distinguished youth who have earned the Merit Scholar title. Approximately half of all finalists will win a scholarship.

Merit Scholar designees are selected based on "skill, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies," the program said.